Choctaw County swept two Region 4-3A games against South Pontotoc last week behind the outstanding play of Austin Telano.
The Chargers won the first game 5-1 as Telano went two for two, with a single, double, an RBI and run scored. He also pitched a strong complete game, allowing three hit and no earned runs, with seven strikeouts and no walks. He was also two for two with four RBIs as Choctaw County won the second game 11-1.
“He's a heck of a player,” said coach Andy Young.
Dawson Jones and Billy Ray Evans combined on a five-inning, no-hitter in the second game. Jones went the first four innings and Evans finished up with a one-two-three fifth.
Telano raised his batting average to a team leading .511. On the mound he is 4-1 while allowing only one earned run, with 24 strikeouts in 26.2 innings for an 0.26 ERA. Braden Hines is batting .479.
Choctaw County is in the middle of a stretch with seven games scheduled in nine days. The Chargers were set to play Leake Central Monday and Aberdeen Tuesday. They will be at Leake Central Thursday and have home games on the docket Friday with Aberdeen, Saturday with Nanih Waiya, Monday with Nettleton and Tuesday against New Hope.
“Our pitching will be fine,” Young said. “This is what we have been preparing for all year. I really like our defense. I just need someone to throw strikes so we can play defense behind them.”
The Chargers are in second place in 4-3A with a 5-2 record (12-3 overall). Houston leads the region with an 8-0 record, including two wins against Choctaw County. Nettleton is third at 3-2, with one of the losses coming against Choctaw County. South Pontotoc is 3-5, Hatley 1-6 and Aberdeen 0-5.
The top four teams from the region will advance to the MHSAA 3A playoffs beginning April 19 against teams from Region 1.
Choctaw County moved up one spot to fifth among the state's 3A schools in the latest rankings from the website MaxPreps.
